Fly-ash from Coal-fed Thermal Power Plants:Bulk Utilization in Horticulture – A Long-term Risk Management Option

Abstract

Management of solid waste (flyash) has attained an apparent scenario for scientific & strategic concern in India due to large-scale dependence on coal-based thermal power plants. Waste utilization as the best option of pollution-prevention and disaster risk strategy has been worked out during previous decades to open doors for flyash utilization on various sectors of developmental and manufacturing sectors. Low application of flyash has reportedly been employed as a soil ameliorant and experiments have demonstrated tree plantation over flyash landfills using organically rich wastes to prepare the suitable substrates. However, the large-scale and voluminous generation of flyash averagely on regular basis calls for bulk utilization options in a productive purpose. Present study discusses the features of coal-combustion flyash and a study of two important vegetable crops, viz., Brinjal and Spinach, grown on flyash substrate. The results advocated the flyash application as higher as up to 50% in case of common garden soils, supporting the options of bulk utilization of flyash in horticultural cropping. The discussions suggested screening of suitable species on the basis of dose-response studies for evolving a protocol for flyash management under ecofriendly protocols.